Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 21 March

1. MARK PECK to the
Minister of Revenue: What steps is the Government taking to
encourage the private sector to invest in research and
development?

2. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Minister
for Biosecurity: When he said in the House yesterday that
"All realistic measures are being taken to ensure that New
Zealand's defences against foot-and-mouth disease are as
effective as possible.", does this mean there is nothing
further the Government can or will do to prevent an outbreak
in New Zealand?

3. JOHN WRIGHT to the Minister for
Industry and Regional Development: What industries have been
identified as having potential for rapid growth and what
steps is the Government taking to work in partnership with
them?

4. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for Arts,
Culture and Heritage: Has she ensured that all public
agencies within the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio
have complied with her statement "This Government wants to
abandon the culture of golden handshakes negotiated in
secrecy, and to abandon the culture of paying people to do
nothing."?

5. JOHN TAMIHERE to the Minister of Justice:
What reaction has he received to his recent announcement on
sentencing and parole reform?

6. Hon MAX BRADFORD to
the Prime Minister: What factors did the Government consider
before she announced that New Zealand would pull out of the
United States-led coalition taskforce in Kuwait?

7. Hon
RICHARD PREBBLE to the Associate Minister of Justice: Are
media reports that former teachers' union leader Rosslyn
Noonan is poised to become the new Chief Human Rights
Commissioner correct; if so, what consultation has there
been with the parliamentary Opposition parties?

8.
DOVER SAMUELS to the Minister in charge of Treaty of
Waitangi Negotiations: What progress has been made towards
settling the treaty claims of the Muriwhenua iwi?

9.
Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Health: Why did the
Health Funding Authority appoint Dr Joel Lexchin as the
independent reviewer of Pharmac after his disclosure that he
had "a reputation as being very critical of the
pharmaceutical industry"?

10. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the
Minister of Health: When did the Health Funding Authority
cease attempts to engage what their correspondence of 30 May
to potential reviewers described as a "senior member of the
legal profession" with "status and credibility" and
"experience and understanding of both public law and
commercial law issues" for the role of independent reviewer
of Pharmac's policies, and what new "core competencies"
brief was issued which made Dr Lexchin a suitable
appointee?

11. NANAIA MAHUTA to the Minister of
Education: What reports has he received on progress with
improving numeracy skills among primary school students?

12. BOB SIMCOCK to the Minister of Social Services and
Employment: Has he or the Department of Child, Youth and
Family Services given the Associate Minister, Hon Tariana
Turia, a commitment towards implementing the Puao-te-ata-tu
strategy which was written for the Labour Government in
1986; if not, why
not?

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